logo
Spanish football legends Casillas, Salgado visit Petra

Spanish football legends Casillas, Salgado visit Petra

Jordan Times12-05-2025
Spanish football legends and former Real Madrid stars Iker Casillas and Michel Salgado on Monday visit the ancient city of Petra as part of a tour of Jordan (Petra photo)
AMMAN — Spanish football legends and former Real Madrid stars Iker Casillas and Michel Salgado on Monday visited the ancient city of Petra as part of a tour of Jordan.
Recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra continues to draw international figures with its historical and cultural significance, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The two footballers were welcomed by Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Fares Breizat, who briefed them on Petra's archaeological heritage, tourism appeal, and ongoing preservation efforts. Commemorative gifts were also presented to the guests in honour of their visit.
Expressing his admiration, Casillas described Petra as 'majestic and beautiful', noting that the site exceeded his expectations and stands as a testament to the ingenuity of the Nabataeans.
Salgado called Petra not only a world-class archaeological treasure, but also a powerful symbol of Jordanian hospitality. He commended the organisation of the visit and the warm reception the delegation received.
The visit comes as part of PDTRA's ongoing initiative to host influential global personalities to raise Petra's profile and promote Jordan as a premier tourism destination.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A sharp decline in tourism in Petra… Al-Buraizat: Hotels closed and hundreds of employees laid off from tourism facilities.
A sharp decline in tourism in Petra… Al-Buraizat: Hotels closed and hundreds of employees laid off from tourism facilities.

Roya News

time3 hours ago

  • Roya News

A sharp decline in tourism in Petra… Al-Buraizat: Hotels closed and hundreds of employees laid off from tourism facilities.

The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Authority, Fares Al-Braizat, stated that the state of tourism in Petra is 'very poor,' explaining that more than 32 hotels in the city are closed, comprising over 2,000 hotel rooms. Al-Braizat added, in a statement to 'Sawt Al-Mamlaka' on Monday evening, that all popular hotels, which number more than 200 rooms, are also closed. He revealed that nearly 700 employees were laid off from Petra hotels due to the decline in visitor numbers, emphasizing that the majority of the city's residents rely on tourism as their primary source of income. He confirmed that a lack of funding has led to the suspension of most capital projects in Petra for the current fiscal year. Furthermore, Al-Braizat indicated that the conflict in Gaza has significantly impacted incoming tourism, noting that 87% of Petra's visitors in 2023 were foreigners. He warned that marketing efforts in Europe and other regions would be ineffective amid regional tensions. Regarding nationalities that visit most, he clarified that Russians rank second after Americans in visiting Petra this year, followed by the French, then Italians, British, and Spaniards, stressing the importance of diversifying targeted global tourism markets to compensate for the current downturn. Hotel occupancy rates are only at 5%. For his part, the Vice President of the Jordanian Hotels Association, Hussein Hilalat, mentioned that the Ministry of Tourism's claims of growth in the sector 'have not manifested at all in reality,' asserting that Madaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum are the most affected areas by the decline in tourism activity. He noted that the Ministry of Tourism had promised the return of low-cost flights in October, but low bookings might prevent this from happening. He pointed out that there are countries suffering from regional repercussions, like Egypt, but they still receive tourists, indicating that an alternative plan is needed to rescue the tourism sector. Hilalat confirmed that hotel prices in Petra are very low, but demand is almost nonexistent, mentioning that the hotel occupancy rate does not exceed 5% in the first half of the current year, a figure which he described as alarming. The situation in Petra is 'very poor.' In turn, the President of the Petra Hotels Association, Abdullah Al-Hasanat, described the situation in Petra as 'very poor,' explaining that communication with the Ministry of Tourism has reached a 'dead end,' despite the worsening crisis. He criticized the 'Jordan Our Paradise' program, arguing that allocating 20,000 visitors to Petra over just five days is not a sustainable solution for operating hotel establishments. He noted that more than 700 employees were recently laid off from Petra hotels, indicating that the conditions for hotels are 'very difficult,' and that 91 hotels in the city are mostly owned by local residents, which increases the local harm. Tourism is a victim of regional tensions. The Chairman of the Economic and Investment Committee in Parliament, Khaled Abu Hassan, confirmed that Petra is the primary tourist destination in Jordan, but today it is among the most affected areas by the repercussions of regional conditions. He pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism acknowledges the existence of a 'real problem' in the city, emphasizing that the cessation of low-cost flights due to regional tensions has played a key role in diminishing tourism movement. He indicated that the Israeli-Iranian conflict, which coincided with the start of the tourist season, has significantly affected the tourism sector this year. الوسوم نسخ الرابط تم نسخ الرابط

Regular Flights Between Moscow and Riyadh Officially Launched at Vnukovo International Airport
Regular Flights Between Moscow and Riyadh Officially Launched at Vnukovo International Airport

Al Bawaba

time12 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Regular Flights Between Moscow and Riyadh Officially Launched at Vnukovo International Airport

Vnukovo International Airport proudly hosted the official inauguration of the first regular direct flight connecting Moscow and Riyadh, operated by Flynas, one of the leading airlines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This milestone marks a new chapter in connectivity between Moscow and Saudi Arabia, opening extensive opportunities for business, tourism, pilgrimage, and cultural Moscow now added to its international network, Flynas provides Saudi travelers with seamless access to Russia's vibrant capital. The new route also offers a comfortable travel option for pilgrims and leisure travelers heading to the Kingdom and the wider Middle East.'Moscow is actively promoting its tourism potential in the Middle East, with a strong focus on Saudi Arabia as a key market. This remarkable growth highlights the impact of our efforts: in 2024, the number of visitors from the Kingdom grew 5.7 times compared to 2023, reaching 52,400 guests. The Russian capital offers Middle Eastern travelers a unique blend of cultural heritage, modern leisure opportunities, and traditional hospitality. The launch of new direct flights marks an important new stage in our cooperation and will make Moscow even more accessible for visitors from Saudi Arabia,' stated Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism new Moscow–Riyadh connection is expected to boost tourism flows between Russia and Saudi Arabia, provide a convenient option for leisure travel from Moscow to the Kingdom, and create new opportunities for trade and investment, further deepening bilateral Travelers Are Discovering Moscow Like Never BeforeThe Moscow City Tourism Committee recently held a series of business meetings in Riyadh and Jeddah to strengthen tourism ties, explore joint cultural initiatives, and support alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. These efforts underline Moscow's commitment to creating a welcoming, culturally rich, and friendly travel experience. Many hotels in Moscow now offer halal dining options, prayer facilities, and services aligned with Islamic standards, supported by a guide listing 30+ halal-friendly restaurants across the city. With the launch of regular Flynas flights, Saudi travelers can now reach Moscow faster and easier than ever before — and experience a capital that blends world-class infrastructure, rich heritage, and year-round cultural events.

Petra attracts nearly 291,000 visitors in seven months, majority foreign tourists
Petra attracts nearly 291,000 visitors in seven months, majority foreign tourists

Jordan Times

timea day ago

  • Jordan Times

Petra attracts nearly 291,000 visitors in seven months, majority foreign tourists

AMMAN — The ancient city of Petra has welcomed approximately 291,000 visitors during the first seven months of 2025, with foreigners making up the majority, according to official data cited by the Al Mamlaka TV. Foreign tourists accounted for 193,061 visitors, representing 66 per cent of the total, with Jordanians and Arab tourists making up the remaining 34 per cent with 78,889 and 19,219 visitors respectively. In July alone, Petra recorded 29,000 visitors, according to official figures, with tourism in the ancient city declining by 61 per cent in 2025 compared to last year. Figures from the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) show that Petra has attracted nearly 9.8 million visitors since 2010. Visitor numbers peaked in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1.14 million tourists and, in 2023, tourism rose to 1.17 million until the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October, after which the numbers plummeted. Last year, visitor numbers fell sharply to 457,215, a 61 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2023, according to PDTRA figures. PDTRA Chairman Fares Braizat said on Sunday that the ancient city has witnessed a sharp decline in tourist numbers, leading to the closure of 32 hotels, amounting to 2,000 rooms, and the loss of 700 jobs. 'Petra is one of the most affected tourist sites by the decline in visitor numbers due to the war on Gaza and its repercussions on the region,' Braizat told members of the Lower House committees. He added that approximately 38,000 residents of Petra rely either directly or indirectly on the tourism industry, and have been hit hard by what he described as a 'crisis.' To mitigate the impact, tourism-related professions have been temporarily exempted from licensing requirements, and some tenants have been relieved of rent dues for 2024, Braizat noted. Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Director General Abdel Razzak Arabiyat echoed the concerns, saying there has been 'almost a complete decline of tourism in Jordan' following the outbreak of war in Gaza. 'Petra, which heavily relies on tourists from Europe and the United States, has been particularly affected,' he said. 'The repercussions are felt daily, especially by those working in tourism services,' Arabiyat told Al Mamlaka TV. He cited plummeting numbers of Western visitors, which have negatively impacted hotels, tour guides, travel agencies, and transport operators in the Petra region. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Saturday announced a new set of tours under the "Urdunnah Jannah" programme aimed at revitalizing Petra's tourism sector. The initiative will organize overnight stays in the city as part of a broader review of the programme in light of regional developments. The ministry said the new tour package, funded with JD1.5 million from the programme budget, in addition to contributions from participants, is part of ongoing efforts to support local communities and boost tourism recovery in Petra.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store